- Three-quarters of Canadians have made or plan on making a contribution before the deadline

- BMO offers multiple options for Canadians looking to contribute

- BMO media spokespeople available to provide last-minute tips on RRSPs, saving for retirement and how to create a financial plan

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 28, 2013) - BMO Financial Group reminds Canadians that they have until midnight on Friday to make a contribution to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) in order to take advantage of valuable 2012 tax deductions.

According to a BMO Financial Group RRSP study, 74 per cent of Canadians with an RRSP said they had already made or planned to make a contribution towards their RRSP before the deadline. Additionally, three-quarters of those surveyed indicated that they planned to contribute the same amount or more compared to last year (the average amount contributed for the 2011 tax year was $4,670).

For Canadians interested in making a last-minute contribution to their RRSP, BMO has a variety of options available:

Visit a local BMO Bank of Montreal branch to contribute in person

Call 1-800-665-7700 to make a contribution over the phone if you have an existing BMO account

"Investing in an RRSP and securing savings for your retirement is an investment in your future and a critical component of your overall financial plan," said Chris Buttigieg, Senior Manager, Wealth Planning Strategy, BMO Financial Group. "If you haven't already done so, make an RRSP contribution before the deadline. For those who still have contribution room available, consider a top up to fully maximize the benefits of contributing to an RRSP."

For last-minute RRSP interviews and wrap-up stories, BMO has a variety of financial experts available from across Canada who can provide investment expertise and advice on a number of topics, including: